NOVPUB
Chapter 156: Return to Maine Road
July 1, 1995. Two weeks had already passed, and the summer break had come and gone.
Now, it was time to get back to work.
There were two more players who joined City—both requested by O’Neill: a right-back and a backup goalkeeper.
Richard agreed with his request and spent another £450,000 on Irish right-back Steve Finnan from Welling United, and £230,000 on goalkeeper Richard Wright from Ipswich Town.
With this, all of City’s 1995/1996 transfer activity was complete. The total expenditure on player acquisitions was £4.73 million, allocated as follows:
Jens Lehmann – £500,000
Henrik Larsson – £650,000
Mark van Bommel – £500,000
Robbie Savage – £500,000
Neil Lennon – £300,000
Jackie McNamara – £600,000
Marco Materazzi – £500,000
Gianluca Zambrotta – £500,000
Steve Finnan – £450,000
Richard Wright – £230,000
After selling Sol Campbell and Shaun Goater to Tottenham for eight million, and Rivaldo to PSV for sis million, they still had £10 million in reserves.
Manchester City was rich!
With the additional loan Richard secured from Harry, City now had around £20 million in total.
"I guess it’s time to start looking for land to build a new stadium?" Richard asked Miss Heysen, who was standing in front of him.
There were plans for further expansion at Maine Road to increase the capacity to 45,000 all-seated when the ambitious Francis Lee was in charge of Manchester City, but these were abandoned by Richard the moment he took over.
Too ambitious to think they could renovate Maine Road and build a new stadium at the same time?
No way.
Richard adamantly rejected such a nonsensical plan. Moreover, expanding the current Maine Road would mean having to demolish more nearby houses, which, to be honest, would only add to the costs.
"Do you have something in mind?" Miss Heysen asked, pulling out her beloved notepad, already poised to jot down his thoughts.
"Hmm..." Richard thought about it for a moment.
One mountain can’t have two lions
The current Manchester United is on their way to reaching their peak. Let’s say they’re on their way to becoming Manchester’s Mufasa. And then Manchester City, on the other hand, is like Simba who hasn’t even learned to walk yet.
Hearing Richard’s analogy, Miss Heysen was momentarily speechless. "I didn’t take you for a Disney fan."
"Is that so?" Richard closed his eyes and began to process Manchester’s landscape in his mind.
’One mountain can’t have two lions...’ he mulled it over and over.
Manchester could indeed be categorized as the mountain, but the urban divide between East and West Manchester was glaringly visible, particularly the contrast in their development and industrial histories. East Manchester was still grappling with the effects of post-industrial decline, while West Manchester was more developed and modernized.
Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, is located in Greater Manchester, specifically in the Trafford borough, which is to the southwest of the Manchester city center.
’That area is already red...’ Richard stopped his thoughts. ’But the east is still affected by industrial decline, poverty, and lack of investment. It was historically home to a working-class population tied to Manchester’s heavy industrial past.’
Richard opened his eyes and began outlining his plan. "Miss Heysen, we’ll start with the districts, focusing on areas like Eastlands and Ancoats."
His plan was simple. If United already controls the west, then City will claim the east.
The city center will serve as the dividing line, but the stadiums shouldn’t be too far apart. In the future, while they won’t be miles apart, they’ll be positioned on opposite sides of Manchester’s city center, with it acting as the natural boundary between the two.
’Holy shit, is this the famous battle of Punk Hazard?’ Richard suddenly imagined, as the red and blue rivalry distracted his thoughts.
After finishing his brainstorming session with Miss Heysen, Richard stood up from his seat and made his way to the training pitch. But just before he exited through the door, he paused.
Realizing something, he turned back to Miss Heysen and said, "Miss Heysen, please prioritize Marina first. Ensure she adapts to how things work in the football club and in England."
Miss Heysen nodded, taking Richard’s request seriously. "Of course. I’ll make sure she gets the support she needs to settle in and understand the culture here."
Richard felt a sense of relief, knowing that Marina’s transition was in capable hands. "Thanks, Miss Heysen," he said before stepping out and heading towards the pitch.
O’Neill stood at the edge of the training pitch, arms crossed, watching as his players trickled in. Some looked fresh and energized, eager to get going. Others still shook off the last remnants of their vacations, stretching out stiff muscles and rolling their shoulders.
Solskjær was juggling a ball at his feet, his touch sharp despite the time off. His movements were smooth and effortless, the ball never once leaving his control. A few younger players nearby stopped to watch, clearly impressed.
Not far from him, on the bench, sat Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Cafu—shoulders slumped, their energy drained, staring blankly at the pitch with little enthusiasm.
Coach Steve Walford and Goalkeeping Coach Terry Gennoe were nearby, trying to get a response out of them.
"Is 23 players enough?"
Richard suddenly appeared behind O’Neill and Robertson, startling them.
"Phew, you’re killing me!" O’Neill said, patting his chest. Then he continued, "That’s fine. We actually have two more backups. Wes Brown and Kieron Dyer are both already 16, so they can serve as emergency backups."
Hearing that, Richard felt relieved.
As he suddenly remembered something, he asked, "By the way, have you met our new physio?"
"Dave?"
Richard nodded, and both O’Neill and Robertson did the same. "Yes," they replied.
"Good. Make sure we coordinate with them regarding recovery. This season, we have the League, FA Cup, and League Cup. If you can, bring City’s first trophy."
"Of course, we’re aiming higher. Make sure everyone knows that."
Hearing their response, Richard gave a satisfied nod. Then, his eyes drifted toward Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Cafu—still sitting on the bench, their energy low and expressions distant.
"What happened?" Richard asked calmly, noticing the odd mood.
"They’ve got nothing left in the tank," O’Neill replied.
"It’s the Copa América," Robertson added.
The host country, Uruguay, won it for a record-tying 14th time by beating Brazil 5–3 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in the final. They were probably just disappointed.
Richard nodded, not dwelling too much on it. After all, winning and losing are part of the game. What truly matters is how you respond. It’s not the defeat that defines you—it’s whether you can rise again after it.
After that, he turned his focus back to the pitch.
The next to arrive was Jens Lehmann, who greeted him with a simple nod before heading straight to the goalkeepers’ area, stretching his arms as he walked. His focus was razor-sharp, as if preparing for a Champions League final against Real Madrid.
After last season’s embarrassing performances, he had promised himself to rise from the ashes. Without wasting a moment, he began training immediately with goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe.
Materazzi and Zambrotta, the new signings, strolled onto the pitch together, deep in conversation. Their shared nationality had already forged a bond between them. Zambrotta spoke with animated gestures while Materazzi chuckled beside him, shaking his head. Both were still adjusting to life in a foreign country—it felt like, for now, they only had each other.
"How is it they adapt?" Richard asked, nodding toward the two Italians, who were warming up away from the rest of the group.
"Language is still an issue, but this is normal—it’s only their first day," someone replied. "We’ve already prepared a little icebreaker for them. Let things flow naturally, without forcing anything."
With that, the whistle blew, and the first training session of the new season was officially underway.
After the training session, O’Neill released the list of players selected for the pre-season trip to Scotland.
Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann, Richard Wright, Nicky Weaver
Center Back: Marco Materazzi, William Gallas, Rio Ferdinand, Keith curle.
Left Back: Cafu, Richard Jobson
Right Back: Roberto Carlos, Steve Finnan
Midfielder: Mark Van Bommel, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon, Jackie McNamara, Theodoros Zagorakis, Jamie Pollock, Keith Gillespie, Graham fenton, Steve Lomas, Gianluca Zambrotta
Forwards: Ronaldo, Henrik Larsson, Ole Gunnar Solskjær
A total of 24 players.
The players leaned forward, eyes scanning the fixtures.
Scotland Short Tour:
July 10, 1995: Raith Rovers 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
July 14, 1995: Hearts
Ronaldo exchanged glances with Solskjær, Savage cracked his knuckles, while Larsson nodded slightly, already locked in.
O’Neill’s voice cut through the murmurs.
"This will be our real test before the First Division," he said, pacing in front of them. "These teams are no joke. They will punish us if we make mistakes. They will show us where we are weak. And they will expose anyone who isn’t ready for this level."
Silence.
Then, he turned sharply, facing the squad.
"These matches aren’t just about fitness," he continued. "They’re about proving yourself. To me. To your teammates. To the fans. You want to start in the starting lineup? Then show me. You want to start in the Premier League? Then there’s one more step to go."
His gaze moved across the room, meeting the eyes of every player.
No one spoke. No one dared to.
He let the weight of his words settle before clapping his hands once.
"Get ready. This tour is where we set the standard for the season."
